ASX Round-Up: Poor January Performance Culminates in Rise to 5,190 Points

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) rose 1.9 points today, ending at 5,190 points.
During January as a whole, the ASX fell 16.2 points, or 2.9 percent. That is the worst January it has seen in four years, The Sydney Morning Herald states. The country’s four big banks, along with BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BLT) “led the losses.”
Globally, equity markets fell during the last week of January as the US Federal Reserve announced further cuts to its bond-buying program. Other negative events include data indicating slow Chinese manufacturing growth.
Performing well today was Sirius Resources (ASX:SIR), which rose 5.29 percent, or $0.11, to a price of $2.19 per share. Sirius is a mineral exploration business with holdings in Western Australia; it explores for gold, nickel and base metals. Sandfire Resources (ASX:SFR) also rose today, climbing 3.94 percent, or $0.22, to a price of $5.81. Sandfire is a gold and copper production company that has land in Western Australia as well.
On the flip side, Medusa Mining (ASX:MML) lost 10.14 percent today, dropping $0.22, to a price of $1.95. Medusa is a gold producer operating in the Philippines.